Ulster hooker Tom Stewart acknowledges his personal struggles as the team faces a challenging start to the United Rugby Championship. With successive draws against Glasgow and Munster, following a loss to Edinburgh, Ulster remains winless as they prepare to begin their Challenge Cup campaign against Zebre next week.

Head coach Richie Murphy expressed his disappointment, particularly after the 26-26 draw with Munster, emphasizing the need for improvement. Stewart, who captained the side in the absence of injured Iain Henderson, reflected on his performance, stating, "I don't think I've come to the party well enough... I need to start understanding why that is the case."

He highlighted the importance of self-reflection, saying, "From my own point of view, I need to properly watch back my intent in some of the collisions and my actual process around what I'm doing." Stewart stressed the necessity for the team to engage in

• Honest conversations
• Assess their current state
• Collaborate closely with coaches

As Ulster prepares for their match against Zebre on Saturday at 15:15 BST, Stewart insists they cannot ignore their performance shortcomings. "It's hard... you don't want to review yourself properly, but that's where you find the fixes, the learnings," he added.

Looking ahead, Ulster also faces tough URC matches against the Bulls and Stormers in South Africa. Stewart emphasizes that confronting the difficult aspects of their game will be crucial for their progress this season.